The pics are long gone but the description is good... after coiling around the 3/8" smooth rod, do you just release the coil or try to maintain it? Or are you just trying to form some memory in the cable?

Once again I'm in the minority on this subject, When using quality snare locks and cable " loading" the snare isn't needed. Or in the words of Keith Gregerson ( Who owns the Gregerson L-4 lock)when asked about this practice , His answer was quite simple Sure I load the snares right into the back of my pickup each morning. Keith taught many of the folks on here how to snare critters and still to this day makes one darn good snare, Which by the way doesn't need any more loading that what he mentions . As for refusals from a tear drop snare loop it can happen yes , However the next trip through the area you have as good of a chance to catch what your target animal is as any. When the loops close on there own ? Set the snare lock a bit further to the side, This also works in high wind area's as well. For instance South Eastern Mt. LOL Best Wishes, amtrapper

Although Graham agrees 1x19 cable is strong, dense and hard, holds a good loop and kills quickly, he prefers 7x7 cable. He gets requests for snares built with 1x19 1/16-inch cable - usually from trappers who are targeting bobcats or foxes and expecting an occasional coyote. Also, some wolf and wolverine trappers in Canada and Alaska favor 1x19 3/32-inch snares,

Still, Graham prefers 7x7 cable. He finds no problem with a teardrop shaped loop in land trapping, and said the most crucial element is the height of the loop off the ground. Extra loop height is not a problem.

He said the teardrop can be made more round by positioning the lock at 2 o'clock - the position he prefers anyway. Wind is a serious problem in prairie and western states, and this lock position is better than the customary I o'clock position at preventing loops from firing too easily.

While we talked on the phone, Graham opened a 1x19 1/16-inch snare to an 8-inch loop. The height measured 10 inches. Next, he opened a 7x7 1/16-inch snare to the same 8-inch width, and the height measured 11 inches. This was with both locks at 2 o'clock - not much difference.

He then told me that although the smoother Ix19 snare fires faster at first, it slows rapidly because of its stiffness.

Graham pulled slightly on the bottom of the Ixl9 snare and it fired quickly, but the 8-inch loop stopped closing by itself at 6 inches. When he began to pull it shut, it started to drag at 5 inches, and took increased force to pull it completely closed.

Then he pulled at the bottom of the 7x7 snare. It fired a bit slower at first, but the loop dropped easily all the, way down to 3-1/4 inches, and was easily pulled shut with no drag.

In his opinion, the 7x7 cable might start a fraction of a second slower, but actually closes more easily than the stiffer lx19 cable. For this reason, Graham believes the IxI9 cable produces more, body catches on canines and bobcats.

Graham also believes "loading" a cable to make it fire faster and give it a rounder shape is unnecessary. In windy areas, where trappers don't want light firing snares, it should be avoided. Quality 7x7 cable, he said, should produce a fairly round loop by itself

In Graham's opinion, 5/64-inch 7x7 cable is the best all-around choice for coyotes, foxes and bobcats. It also works well with a variety of locks. The1x19 1/16-inch cable is his second choice. He said IxI9 5/64-inch cable is particularly slow to close, and he doesn't like to use it.

Some trappers still use 3/32-inch cable for coyotes, particularly for the larger eastern and northern animals. Many trappers think heavier cable is needed for larger animals - in part to prevent chew-outs. But Graham said chew-outs are caused by bad lock systems, not cable diameter.

I make my own snares 1/19 1/16 I load them hard when the snare is open to about 8" and you pull down slightly on the bottom it will fire to a 2" loop. It took me a few years to perfect this but they will fire like a rocket. I have very few fired snares without game in them. My catch has improved greatly since I started making my own

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Work is for people that don't know how to trapUS Navy 83'-89'